Latching relay



Dec. 1959 c. w. NOYES 2,916,583

LATCHING RELAY Filed Jan. 20, 1958 IN V EN TOR.

fly 4 BY (was In Mort:

A TTOR/Yf) United States Patent LATCHING RELAY Charles W. Noyes, Orange, Calif., assignor to Marco Industries Company, Anaheim, Calif., a corporation of California Application January 20, 1958, Serial No. 710,062

4 Claims. (Cl. 20098) This invention relates to latching relays and has as its object to provide a latching relay suitable for use in an annunciator circuit such as that shown in the pending application of George H. Rodgers S.N. 627,673, now Patent No. 2,840,804 filed December 11, 1956, for Multiple Indicator and Warning Light Switching System. The latching relay of the present invention is the relay shown schematically in that pending application.

In particular, the invention contemplates a latching relay utilizing a pair of solenoids, disposed side by side on parallel axes, with a switch operating armature responsive to one of the solenoids and a latch releasing armature responsive to the other solenoid, together with a novel latch which is spring biased for latching engagement with the switch operating armature and is mechanically actuated by the release armature to a releasing position in which the switch operating armature is released for spring biased return to a normal position.

The invention has as a particular object to provide a latching relay that is especially adapted for selective actuation of a double pole, double throw relay switch between a spring biased normal position in which two of its contacts are engaged and a latched position in which two alternate contacts are engaged.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a latching relay which utilizes two separate'controlling devices (e.g. solenoids) one of which is responsive to current flowing in one control circuit for shifting the relay to a latched position in which a pair of controlled circuits are established, and the other of which is operated in response to current flowing in another control circuit, for unlatching the relay for spring biased return to a normal position in which still another controlled circuit (or circuits) is established.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the ensuing specifications and appended drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a latching relay embodying the invention, with a portion of its associated circuit shown in diagram;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the relay;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the relay taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the relay taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view looking into the contact structure.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I have shown therein, as an example of one form in which the invention may be embodied, a relay that is particularly applicable for use in a multiple indicator and warning light switching system of the type shown in the aforesaid pending application of George H. Rodgers, which pro vides a multiple indicator system including a plurality of indicators, each adapted to indicate the condition of a corresponding unit of mechanism and to hold such indication until any faulty, unwanted or abnormal condition is corrected; including an alarm device adapted to 2,916,583 Patented Dec. 8, 1959 call the attention of an operator to each abnormal condition as it occurs; and including means for promptly resetting the alarm device while the indicator continues to hold its indication, in order that the alarm device may function to call attention to any subsequent occurrence of failure or abnormal condition to another of the multiple indicators. While reference may be made to that application for a more complete description of such a multiple indicator system, a portion of that system is shown in Fig. 1 of the present application, in order that the functioning of the latching relay of this invention may be more clearly understood. Using the same numbering as that found in said pending application, the alarm device for calling attention to each new occurrence of a fault, may comprise an indicator lamp W, a resetting switch S, which may be mechanically coupled to the indicator light W, and :the latching relay of the present invention, indicated generally at R.

In general, the relay of this invention comprises an actuator solenoid 31 having an armature 25 which carries a pair of movable switch arms 27, 27 the armature 25 being adapted, when solenoid 31 is energized, to shift from a normal position to a latched position in which the movable end of the armature 25 is engaged and latched by a latch 35. Secured to armature 25, and actuated thereby, is a pair of contact-carrying switch arms 27, 27'. A release solenoid 42, arranged alongside the solenoid 31, with the axes of the two solenoids parallel, has an armature 10 which carries at its moving end an actuator finger 11 extending transversely and engageable with latch 35 to move the latter to a release position from which the armature 25 and switch arms 27, 27 will be spring-returned to their normal positions.

Referring further to the disclosure in the aforesaid pending application, the relay R will be set to its normal position when a signal is transmitted through a remote control conductor 34 and a connection 52 to the solenoid 42 to actuate the latch 35 to release position. This circuit, for energizing solenoid 42, is completed through a connection 51, a switch contact 32 of relay R, the switch arm 27 of the relay, and a connection 44 to a source of electric current, indicated at 28V. The signal comes through conductor 34 from a remote control switch responsive to the occurrence of a fault to be corrected, and a local indicator lamp, also connected to such fault switch, as disclosed in said pending application, established from conductor 34 to the warning lamp W and thence through a conductor 33 to a contact 29 of relay R, thence through moving switch arm 27 of the relay to conductor 44 and thence to the current source 28V. Through this circuit the lamp W will be illuminated.

The requirements of this multiple indicator circuit are such that, when the operator has been thus apprised of the occurrence of a fault, and has located the fault through the local indicator, he may then reset the lamp W and the relay for further operation of the circuit in response to some other local fault circuit, and the reset switch S is provided for this purpose. In response to manual closing of reset switch S, a circuit is established through conductor 45 to solenoid 31 to actuate the relay to its latched position, the armature 25 being attracted to the solenoid 31 and the latch 35 automatically moving up to latch the armature 25 in that position.

In shifting to the latched position, the relay R opens the circuit between the switch arm 27 and the contact 29, thus deenergizing the lamp W, and closes the switch arms 27 and 27' upon contacts 32 and 29, thus setting up the following circuits: (a) the unlatching circuit from source 28V through conductors 51 and 52 to the remote control switch which, when closed will complete this circuit; (b) the resetting circuit through conductor 45 to the open switch S which, when manually closed, completes this circuit In its unlatched position, relay R breaks thesetwo' circuits at contacts 32 and 29 and sets up the circuit to warning lamp W through switch contact 29 and conductor 33, this circuit being completed in response to a signal from a remote control ;de :vice coming through conductor 34. It will thus heapparentthat the relay R provides for alternate actuation of the .overall circuit first in response toa signal from the remote control device coming through line 34 and then in response to manual reset through switch S which 'functions also to establish a resetting operation at a remote point-in the circuit through line 50 connected to switch S.

With the foregoing outline of the multiple indicator circuit of the aforesaid pending application serving as an outline of the requirements for the relay R, allof the above mentioned reference numerals being those used in said pending application, (with the exception of numerals and 11) the details of construction of relay R will now be described.

" Any suitable base 12 may be utilized for mounting the solenoids 31 and 42 in side by side relation, with their operative poles 13, 14 disposed in substantially a common plane. The post or posts 15 rising vertically from the forward end of base 12 provide a support for a transversely extending bracket 60 to which the latch 35 is mounted on a pivot 16. A post or posts 17, rising from base 12 immediately behind the respective solenoids 31, 42, provides support for a pair of brackets 18, 18' each of which has at its upper end, a yoke 19 in which is mounted, on a transverse pivot 20, a respective armature 25, 10. Each of the armatures has a downwardly projecting tail 26 to which is attached one end of a spring 30 the other end of which is attached to an arm on the lower end of the respective bracket 18 or 18. The springs 30 bias the respective armatures to their normal, unlatched positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4 respectively.

The movable switch arms 27, 27 are insulated from the armature 25 by a block of insulating material 21 interposed therebetween and serving to mount the respective switch arms on the armature 25.

' .Contacts 29, 29' and 32 are mounted on an upright support 28 attached to base 12 as shown in Fig. 4.

Latch 35 is of Z-shape, including arms 36 and 38 extending in opposite directions from pivot 16, arm 36 being ofiset outwardly and arm 38 being offset inwardly from the pivot. Arm 36 has a latching dog 39 projecting toward armature 25. Dog 39 is spaced above the upper surface of bracket 60 (which lies in a common plane with the upper end surface of pole 13 of solenoid 31) sufficiently to overlie the free end of armature 25 when the latter is drawn downwardly to seat against bracket 60. Dog 39 has a beveled upper front face opposed to the end of armature 25 and acted upon with a camming action by said armature end as the latter is moved downwardly, to retract the dog away from the armature until the end of the armature clears the dog and slips beneath it. This retracting movement is indicated in both Fig. 1 and Fig. 4, by the arrows shown therein, and involves a clockwise rotation of latch 35 on pivot 16.

A coil spring 59, acting in tension between latch 35 and post 28, yieldingly biases latch 35 for counterclockwise movement (opposite to the retracting movement described above) to cause dog 39 to latch over the end of armature 25 when the latter seats against bracket 60.

Arm 38 has a bevelled upper rear face 40 which is disposed beneath actuator finger -11 and is acted upon by the latter with a camming action when armature 10 is drawn downwardly to seat against bracket 60, such camming action being elTective to rotate latch 35 clockwise to effect a retracting movement of latch dog 39 to release armature 25 for return movement to its normal position shown in Fig. 4. Thus the actuator finger 11 constitutes a releasing device, actuated by release sole- 4 noid 42, for unlatching the armature 10 from the holding action of latch dog 39,

I claim:

1. In a latching relay: an actuator solenoid; a switch operating armature actuated by said solenoid; a release solenoid; a release armature actuated by said release solenoid, said armatures being disposed substantially in a common plane; a latch extending transversely between said armatures said latch being pivoted intermediate its ends on an axis between said armatures for swinging movement substantially in said plane; means yieldingly biasing said latch for latching engagement of one end thereof with said switch operating armature upon movement of the latter in response to energization of said actuator solenoid; and a releasing device carried by said release armature and operative upon the other end of said latch with a camming action to shift the same to an unlatching position for releasing said switch operating armature for return to a normal position in response to energization of said release solenoid.

2. In a latching relay: an actuator solenoid and a release solenoid arranged side by side on parallel axes and with operative poles arranged substantially in a common plane normal to said axes; a switch operating armature and a release armature arranged in substantially a common plane in adjacent, opposed relation to the said respective poles of said actuating solenoid and said release solenoid respectively and having respective movable ends in laterally registering relation; a latch mounted for pivotal movement substantially in said plane on a fixed axis between said solenoids and parallel to said solenoid axes between said movable ends of the respective armatures, said latch extending transversely between said armatures andhaving a latching head projecting to a position for latching engagement with said movable end of said switch operating armature and a tail projecting in the opposite direction toward said movable end of the release armature for swinging movement in the direction to establish said latching engagement; and means on said movable end of said release armature, engageable with said tail with a camming action to swing said latch in the opposite direction for unlatching said switch operating armature when said release solenoid is energized.

3. In a latching relay: an actuator solenoid and a release solenoid arranged side by side on parallel axes and with operative poles arranged substantially in a common plane normal to said axes; a switch operating armature and a release armature arranged in adjacent, opposed relation to the said respective poles of said actuating solenoid and said release solenoid respectively and having respective movable ends in laterally registering relation; said armatures being disposed in substantially a common plane; means yieldingly biasing said switch operating armature toward a normal, unlatched position, from which said switch operating armature is movableto an alternate position; a latch mounted on a fixed pivot on an axis parallel to said solenoid axes, disposed substantially in said common plane and having a latching head extending laterally for latching engagement with said movable end of said switch operating armature and a tail extending in the opposite direction and positioned adjacent said movable end of said release armature; a spring acting upon said latch and normally maintaining said latching head in yielding engagement with said movable end of said switch operating armature, whereby, when the latter is drawn toward said actuating armature by energization of the latter, said latching head will move into overlapping relation to said switch operating armature on the side thereof remote from said actuating solenoid to latch said switch operating armature in said alternate position; and a release element on said movable end of said release armature, engageable with said tail and operative thereon when said release armature is attracted toward said release solenoid, to swing said latch in the opposite direction to release said latching head from latching engage- References Cited in the file of this patent ment with said switch operating armature. UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 A latching relay as defined in claim 3 wherein said il has an inclined cam face and said rel a l t 624,396 a gh May 2, 1899 nstitutes a finger projecting laterally from the end f 1,429,948 Hulse pt. 26, 1922 said release armature and engageable ith id cam face 2,162,126 Shaw June 13, 1939 to effect said release movement f th l h, 2,441,137 An h ny May 11, 1948 

